Sheriffs deputy fired after charged in theft

Herald staff

EVERETT -- A Snohomish County sheriff's deputy was fired last week in connection with a pending criminal case against him.James E. Hager, 43, was charged in November in King County Superior Court with second-degree burglary, third-degree theft and third-degree malicious mischief.Prosecutors allege that Hager visited a vacation property in the Skykomish area in May and took several items, including a wood-burning stove, a stove pipe, some cedar flooring and an electrical cord. He was off-duty at the time.Hager pleaded not guilty in November. He has a hearing scheduled in April.Meanwhile, the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office conducted an internal investigation, spokeswoman Shari Ireton said Tuesday. Investigators determined that Hager had violated department policies, she said.He was fired Jan. 2. He had been a deputy for six years.

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